Has anyone installed a floating floor themselves?

[RoughCollie]

Here's the story. Our kitchen floor was ruined by water damage 2 years ago. A year later we got a new floor. Three months after, 5 more hidden leaks occurred and the replacement floor was ruined.

We have to get another floor in there. The insurance company will pay for it after it is installed. We have to front the money for it, and right now we don't have enough to pay for installation.

I want to put in a cork or Marmoleum floating floor. These were originally designed so that homeowners could install the floors themselves, and lots of people do.

It doesn't look difficult to me. I watched the previous floor being installed. The only tool I'll need is some kind of saw (it's electric, don't know what it's called). I have everything else.

So I figure that one of my DS and I can install the floor ourselves even though neither of us has done it before. DS said he would help, and I did nix his idea of putting in a tile floor because it is too difficult.

Is this a good idea, do you think? I am desperate to have a floor in my kitchen. But if this is a plain stupid idea, somebody stop me!

RC

[Mandamom]

checked your local Home Depot or Lowe's to see if they offer classes on installing the kind of floor you want to install? They are a great way to learn basic home improvement.

A couple of years ago my mom started installing her laminate floor and did a good bit of it by herself. When I heard about it we drove down so my dh could help her finish it and it was done pretty quickly. Later dh did our current floor although he's very handy so it wasn't too hard or scary for him to contemplate.

Also, ask around and maybe you have a friend or that will help you get it done for the cost of beer and pizza (and maybe a little cash).

Good luck.

[Wendi]

Our laminate floor wasn't hard to install overall; the hardest part is that we were doing our whole downstairs, which involved bay windows, doorways, and other obstacles. So measuring and cutting angles was the hard part. In a more regularly shaped room, it would be a snap.

Wendi

[Laura K (NC)]

but I like it! That would be a nice floor.

I installed hardwood floor and finished myself, and I installed a floating laminate wood floor in our basement. I've also installed tile and laminate squares.

The hardest part of installing a floor is making sure the underlayment (cement, plywood, cement backerboard) is completely smooth and level. I spend more time prepping than I have in laying the actual floor.

If you have never laid a floor before, I'd ask around your local homeschool community for a handyman who can come inspect your underlayment before you actually get started. It probably won't cost you much, and it might save you a whole lot of headache further down the road. I wish I had done this before I laid my hardwood floor. Since those Marmoleum squares look big, there's extra reason to make sure the floor is flat. The squares will crack if they have to bend over the places where plywood underlayment come together. If you have had water damage in the kitchen before, there's a good chance that the plywood has warped and is turning up at the seams. If there's a cement underlayment then you'll be in pretty good shape if it's not cracked at all, but then you might need to do a moisture test.

Usually there will be detailed instructions that come with the materials. Don't skimp on any preparation. But you can do this. I think it's fun!

[Mrs Mungo]

Our laminate floor wasn't hard to install overall; the hardest part is that we were doing our whole downstairs, which involved bay windows, doorways, and other obstacles. So measuring and cutting angles was the hard part. In a more regularly shaped room, it would be a snap.

Wendi

I agree. Hubby installed laminate floors in our home in NC (I did very little to help) and the toughest part was cutting angles for the hallways, etc. He did such a good job that he helped out next-door neighbor install them in their house.

[Laura K (NC)]

nt

[Elisabeth in IL]

My husband did our kitchen floor and once he figured it out, everything went smoothly. Our neighbor lady next door, mid 50's, started to do her own floor then ended up hiring someone. Good Luck if you decide to do it yourself.

[RoughCollie]

Okay, Folks. Thanks for your opinions and advice. I think DS and I are going to tackle this project. I appreciate your help. Glad to know I'm not going off the deep end with this idea.

RC